It Never Ends Well. Anger, Outrage and Surrendering A Found Pet To The Jerk Who Owns Him.

It isn’t going to end well.. It rarely does.

Me and my latest "no good deed goes unpunished" saga. His story here

There is a very short time-sensitive period of inflection, that place where if just the right steps are taken at just the perfect moment a peaceful veil of sensibility can descend that might possibly allow a resolution where everyone wins, no one feels baffled or betrayed, and, most importantly, we might just be able to save a life. The challenge lies in both finding that inflection point, and, being able to influence it. Achieving perfectly timed recognition whilst positively influencing outcome AND being courageous enough for both is an exceptionally tall task.
It is rare to find a happy ending when so many varied ends of the personality chart are involved. Even rarer when a vulnerable young pet is involved, and almost impossible when the county government with their own agendas, restrictions, and noose hold abilities are in the play.

Rare, if not impossible. As of present I have only been fortunate when all others departed, and/or, abandoned the mission willingly.

This is a story about muddling up the lives of those you know need you. The lives that pet parents can't manage safely, and, the appalling tragedies that play out in the judicial system once the parties get sucked in. I have yet to see it end well. It has left me extremely tentative to intervene and even more compellingly paralyzed to turn away. I recognize the tragedy in my tentativeness will cost the ones who I am ethically and morally compelled to intervene on behalf of. I admit that becoming indifferent, accepting that this will never get better for them, and that failing every time previously is accepting defeat for any meaningful change moving forward. Giving up on the hope to have it get better is giving up on the meek and the voiceless.

These are two real-life stories of puppies who in the end were set up to fail on all sides of a custody battle between their families and the laws that are supposed to protect them.

We can't seem to learn this lesson. We have been repeating it for decades, and still, our hearts tell us one thing and our experience and hindsight teach us another.

Cora. Found wandering the road at the end of my driveway many years ago. She now has a wonderful home. She is one of the few who did soo much better the second time around.

Last night we repeated our "shame on us" lesson again. A very sweet young guy came in with an equally charming, albeit wired, young black shepherd to say he had found him a few miles away. He had brought him to us for assistance in finding his home. The dog was microchipped and within a few moments we had the information we needed to reunite him with his family.

A phone call was made. “We didn’t know he was missing,” was the first thing the owner said. Probably not a good sign. A quick flash to Facebook revealed an hour old post of another concerned citizen who had posted photos of the dog trying to get in their back patio door. Not a menacing act, not a dangerous dog, just a young smiling dog at a back door looking for options from a kind heart.

When a gruff, ruffled, stoic, and unsettling man showed up at the clinic a short time later without a leashed pet, or carrier, we all feared he was here to collect. He looked like the kind of guy who might sell contraband for fun, and intimidate for spite. Slicked back greasy grey hair, jeans that haven’t been washed in decades, and dirt, lots of dirt. He was scary, intimidating, short tempered and quick with the tongue. All of these he took pride in. None of us wanted to talk to him. We most especially didn’t want him to be here to claim this dog. We should have not called him. We knew that now. It wouldn’t change his ownership rights, but it wouldn’t have had to be us turning the dog over. You just know these things. You can accuse me of judgement, but give me a minute.

When we brought the dog out to him the dog took one look at the owner and his swiftly wagging tail, fell, dropped to his knees and halted in his tracks. That puppy was terrified. Think your dog doesn’t know what kind of human you are? They do. The guy immediately yanked the leash from us. The pup lurched backward, recoiled in fear and trepidation and exhaled a wind of crying moans. He threw the dog into the car as his dog frantically tried to escape from then beat him into submission and willingness.

Where will this go? No where good. He will break that dog into being a biter, or kill him into submission, and that guy who so desperately needs to bully and intimidate to validate his own worth will move on to another dog who looks like a breed he can dominate, this guy wont ever have a cat or a chihuahua his tiny fragile ego wont ever let him love something to earn what unconditional love gives back.

And for those of us at the clinic held horrified and hostage to witnessing this, well we will house these guys and surrender them to the cops at animal control next time. I will never permit the staff to have  to witness this again. Let the proper authorities bear witness and decide how to manage the asshat and the victim. At least they keep records of lost pets, make sure they are vaccinated, and put guys like this on the radar. Maybe if he has outstanding warrants for abusing kids he will leave this pup at the shelter for a better chance with another person.

What's the worst part of being a vet? No, it's not the tearful euthanasia as we bid farewell to a companion who was so beloved they have an entourage of sniffles, tears, and stories of a life everyone giggles about as they fondly remember it and sends them to heaven in the loving arms of their family. No, it’s the jerks who never gave a damn about their pets, outside of yelling, or beating them, or training them to be bait, and never will. The asshats who beat, ruin, destroy and produce animals that the BSL laws manifest from. This is the tragedy in being a veterinarian, being complicit to vicious evil people who own your patients and destroy them simply because they can get away with it. Think I'm wrong? The justice system is full of spineless prosecutors. Its not that they don’t know, or see, or hear, they just don’t act.

My Amish neighbors selling their never dewormed OR vaccinated (mom too) kittens.

Where do I intervene again? I will never call a microchipped pets owner again unless they are a client. I will only call Animal Control. I will willingly and knowingly subject these pets to perhaps never being picked up at the shelter (many owners refuse to look for them, or, don't think to check there, or, don't want to pay the reclaim fee). These pets might then be put up for adoption, or, they will be euthanized if the shelter deems it necessary. The other potential shelter outcome is exposure to disease an possible death due to that. It is the prayed for hope, which I have seen happen numerous times, that a pet who began in the wrong hands lands the dream adoption and gets their blissfully joyful second chance in a home full of love and devotion.

Wee Willy. Found as a two week old with a dislocated wrist.
He is now part of our JVC rescue.

The other story that will haunt me for the rest of my days is the puppy who I would meet weeks later in the shelter. His story with me began with an inquiry phone call from the young pups mom to my veterinary clinic as she was trying to find help for her puppy, (all four months old of him), who had been suffering with a broken leg for over a week.

This is a clear cut and simple case of 'no good deed going unpunished'. It is also another small whispering reminder that I need to start to listening to. I need to leave well enough alone and remember that bad cases can evolve into worst cases quickly. And, that unknowingly, un-wantingly and unwillingly these can escalate out of your hands into full blown disasters with the spark of a prelude in good intentions.

This puppy's story began with a phone call to the clinic. A cryptic phone call about a puppy with a broken leg who needed help the owners couldn't afford. As in all cases like this when we have a client we don't know and a puppy we know needs help, we start with an in clinic examination. We go from there. In many cases we can  make miracles from intentions. It didn't start here. An appointment for the examination was made, and then no one showed. We called to see why? No answer. No answer for repeated attempts for days.

Worry set in. We worried for as long as we could quietly. That worry turned into a phone call to Animal Control. They visited the puppies home. They found a puppy with an obviously broken leg who hadn't been seen by a veterinarian and the puppy was ordered to be brought to a vet within 48 hours. We were called again and this time we offered to help with an examination for free. The puppy, sweet, happy, playful, excited to see new people, had an old fracture. So old it wouldn't be likely to heal without significant and possibly repeated bone plates from a boarded orthopedic surgeon. This constituted as neglect in the eyes of Animal Control. The puppy was essentially seized by Animal Control as they mounted a case for neglect against the owners. The puppy was left at the shelter where he stayed locked in a cage for months. Over that time I saw him turn from a happy socially outgoing and sweet, albeit lame, puppy into an emotionally neglected pit bull with fear based aggression. He was euthanized due to behavior issues, with his still broken leg, a few months later. He would have been better off with a bum leg and a family who loved him. We, with the best of intentions, killed him. I see his face behind those double caged bars to this day.

This is the real life a veterinarian leads. It is the fodder for the nightmares that haunt me, and will never let me un-see, or un-live them. These are the voices of wisdom from the forefathers who always reminded me to "keep my own nose in my own business." Or, "to not judge others."

When do I intervene? Who is going to find a home where they are loved, and, isn't that all that matters? I don't know anymore? I don't know if "good intentions" are enough?

My Fripp. Who always reminds me to smile even when life is all seemingly lemons.

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Pet Flipping. In the News

In the news this week..a new way to beat a faltering economy..."pet flipping."

Remember the days when it was widely publicized that people were robbing trains, hit and run insurance fraud, and using arson to make a little spare change? Well, today in the animal world 'pet flipping' is the latest scam.

How is it done?

Your pet is simply stolen and then sold on Craigs List, or you get a phone call from some seemingly concerned citizen who "found" your pet and is now wiling to return it for a reward.

Sad, horrible, shameful, and despicable.

What can you do to keep your pet safe?

1. Never let them out of your sight.

2. Keep them leashed at all times.

3. Micro-chip your pet.

4. Keep a collar, tags, and identification on the.

What should you do if your pet goes missing?

1. Start searching every shelter.

2. Start monitoring Craigs List listings. 

3. Call your microchip manufacturer to report your pet missing.

4. Hang flyers everywhere

5. Notify all of the local veterinary clinics.

6. Report your pet as stolen on Craigs List

Why is a microchip so vital?

Well, simply it is the safest and most effective way to get your pet back to you. Not only that, but, if your pet is microchipped and if it goes missing the microchip can be used as the foundation for criminal charges. A microchipped pet that goes missing and is in another persons possession is considered stolen property.

If you are interested in microchipping your pet please see your veterinarian. If you are in the Jarrettsville MD area stop by Jarrettsville Vet, we microchip with every examination for FREE!

Fourth Of July. Your Pets Idea Of The Apocolypse

We all like happy endings. Unfortunately, life doesn't always hand them to us.

It was a quiet catch up day at home. It is early summer and we have a few monumental projects underway on our old house. Most of our weekends get one weekend day dedicated to renovations. Today was "gut the old kitchen" day. Eight years I have waited to take a sledge hammer to the red grouted hideous horror that was our postage stamp kitchen. The doors were open, the dust, debris, and busted up interior circa 1970 kitchen was headed to its final resting place when around noontime an  unknown truck drove slowly, almost tentatively, down our long drive.

I went out to meet a 'more formal than from around here' guy who cordially asked "if I had seen a dog?"

My heart went out to him immediately.

He was apologizing for interrupting my day and trespassing our demo-zone.

We live in the country down a long forgotten looking drive to keep the Amish gawking tourists out. He, like every other motorist who has driven our drive, thought we were just a farm trail. I walked to his truck to try to ease his concerns and to slow him down so I could gather the information fast enough to be able to help. His stress, fear, and worry were palpable. I have seen this parental worry for an in-danger pet more times than I can count. I have been there, and I empathized completely!.

The celebration of the Fourth of July is the mid-summer kick off marked by loud noises, incredible fireworks displays, heat, humidity, and food. For our pets, and those of us veterinarians who serve them it, symbolizes heat exhaustion, heat stroke, death due to hyperthermia and dehydration, hit by car emergencies, pancreatitis from over indulgence, gastric/intestinal obstructions from ingestion of inappropriate foods and lost pets due to running away from the fear of those loud noises.

The next few blogs are going to focus on these Fourth of July fiasco's that I hope you and your family can avoid by learning from other peoples pet emergency stories.

After a few awkward moments of trying to convince our visitor that we were not upset about his visit, or taking up our time, I was able to collect a few details about his plight.

He introduced himself as Chris and told me that he was visiting his brother with his dog.

"My dog ran away from my brother's house. He lives at the end of the road that is off of your drive. I think that his property is adjacent to yours over the cornfields." Chris said.

"Oh, yes, I know the house." I said, as the crow flies it is about a mile away. "When did he run away?" I asked.

"At about ten a.m. He is an 8 year old male Golden Retriever, he has a collar and tags, and he is micro-chipped." It was a little after noon now.

Thank-god, I thought! A micro-chip is such a relief to have when your pet gets lost. If your pet is found and if that someone tries to find you the microchip is the best way to do this. (Important point, if your pet is micro-chipped have your vet scan for it, check that the number the scanner reads matches the number you have on their records, and call the micro-ship provider to make sure that the information they have is up to date and correct. A micro-chip is only useful if it can find you).

"What is his name?"

"Teddy."

I introduced myself and told him that I would call the local emergency and veterinary clinics to notify them, in case anyone brought in his dog (run-away's do get hit and some people think, erroneously, that if they hit a pet that they will be held financially responsible for this..YOU WILL NOT..but please never leave an injured pet behind)..see my blog on Emergency Kit and Emergency Procedures. Please call for help, or bring an injured pet (if you can do so safely and without further injuring the pet AND without injuring your self), to the nearest emergency clinic. I also told Chris that I would post Teddy on our clinic's Facebook page.

Chris thanked us and drove away saying he was going to keep driving around looking for Teddy.

I made my calls to all of the local clinics and left my number as the contact person.

There are a few big advantages to living in a rural country setting. One is that I know everyone in the small veterinary world around me..I asked every clinic to spread the word and told them I was posting an Amber Alert on our clinics Facebook page, and I asked that they all share it.

Then I hit social media. One of the key factors in catching the Boston Marathon bombers was social media, it is by far the quickest way to spread the word and join massive numbers of people on a common mission.

A few minutes later Teddy's story was being shared by friends, family, clients, and neighbors.

My husband and I got in the Gator and headed into the corn fields, a leash and phone in hand. We traipsed in 4WD through the mud, the brush, the streams, and the fields searching for any sign of a red dog running. We tracked what I imagined to be about a 70 pound dogs' recent foot prints captured in the mud from the just rained on little dirt road that runs between the corn fields, but after two hours and a thousand lashes from the pricker bushes came home empty-leashed.

I texted Chris to see if  he had any luck, but only heard the torment in his down-trodden voice when he said, "Nope, still no sign of him."

At 6 pm I got a text from a good friend who was once our clinics groomer but was now stay at home mom, that another mutual friend of ours, and another old JVC employee now turned Animal Control Officer of our county, saying that she had received a call that someone who had picked up a dog running on Rte 851. State route 851 is our nearest big road..and I say big because people routinely travel this road at 60 plus mph. I immediately called her and got the name and number of the good Samaritan who had picked up the dog to hunt down the first and only lead we had so far on Teddy.

A minute later I was on the phone with Mary. She and her son were traveling in our neck of the woods and saw a red dog running west on 851. They stopped when no one else did, pulled up to him and opened their car door. Teddy jumped right in and they all headed home. Not having a dog of their own at home they stopped at the grocery store to pick up dog food. Mary told me that Teddy was now comfortable on the couch with her husband, and that although they had had plans for the evening she had decided to stay home with him to keep him company. Mary had alerted animal control, but they told her it would be Monday before they could do anything about him. So with a few days ahead of them they had all settled in together.

Mary was so kind, and generous, and she even offered to drive Teddy home. I thanked her and told her that she had likely saved his life. She said that no one else was stopping and that people were speeding around him..she knew she had certainly spared him from being hit.

I called Chris and gave him Mary's information, hoping that her stray was his.

What were the chances of a Golden Retriever on 851 and it not being the same dog? Hopefully, very slim.

Mary called me a few minutes later to say that Teddy was back with his dad. I once again thanked her.

Chris came by our house again to introduce Teddy and to say "Thanks."

We shared Teddy's story over a beer. I offered him a Loose Cannon, (ironically of course), and he offered me a bottle of wine.

It wasn't until now that Chris had the time or valor to admit the whole story to me.

He said that Teddy was at his brother and sister in-laws because his wife and kids were at State college for the day and she didn't trust him with Teddy alone. (Sorry, honey, but all wives who love their pets like kids feel this way). When he and Teddy had gotten to his brothers house he let Teddy out of the car to go down to the pond. A short time later off in the distance someone started firing off a rifle? or cannon? (I had heard it too, I think cannon), and it scared Teddy enough to set him running off into the corn fields.

Once a dog is spooked, and it can be from any abnormal, or loud, or different noise, they will run. Without a leash or a fence big enough to contain them they will go. They will not listen to a command and they will not think through their fear. It is a primal unstoppable fear based response.

The best way to protect your pet from the dangers of the noises that drive pets to run away is to:

1. Keep your pet with you, leashed to you, or in your house, at all times when loud noisy activities are going on.
2. Use a reflective collar to alert motorists should your pet be out at night. 
3. Have your pets information on their collar. I like to embroider my phone number on their collar, so that if a tag falls off the information is still there, but there are also metal plates that can be mounted on a pets collar.
4. Have a tag on the collar with your pet's name, your phone number and "MICROCHIPPED" written on it, if your pet is micro-chipped.
5. Have your pet micro-chipped.
6. Assume your pet will over react to loud noises and be prepared for it. Any gunfire, fireworks, or even overhead airplanes can cause a pet to run. if you hear any loud noises look at your pet. If they are looking scared, perplexed, or anxious get them inside or on a leash immediately.
7. If you are inside and your pet is looking fearful place them in a safe, enclosed, secure space. The smaller the better (most pets feel safer in a small contained area like a cage versus a room). 
8. If they are still feeling overwhelmed by the noises, try to dampen them by placing a blanket over the cage to block out the noise.
9. If your pet is calmer with you then keep them next to you. Don't intensify their fear by baby-talking to them. This will often reinforce their fear. If they think that you are afraid too it will just  compound their insecurity. Be kind and gentle but not afraid.
10. Keep pets away from windows. I have seen dogs jump through a window to run.
11. For any pet that has had an issue with thunderstorms, or fireworks, etc. in the past, once they have a fear then they will likely have it forever. Expect this and prepare for it. Ask your vet for help with dealing with fear based anxiety issues. Most behavioral issues worsen and intensify with time. Expect this and prepare for it on the first occasion.
12. Even with training to try to ease their fears (we call it conditioning) the chance of them over reacting to a threatening stimuli is present. There are things to try that might help. I would encourage you to try them. They include:

• Thundershirt. The Thundershirt is designed to snuggly around your pet like a shirt. These can calm a pet without drugs or training and they are very affordable. I am now using it on my 17 year old dog Savannah. It is helping her anxiety issues.

• Ask your veterinarian for a referral to a behaviorist to help in calming your pets anxiety by getting them more comfortable with it so they do not over react to it. 
• Ask your vet about anxiety medications. If your pet has a growing or worsening list of anxiety issues, or you are having issues with their behavioral changes, please talk to a veterinarian about long term medical therapies. There are many good, affordable, and effective treatments out there. take a leap of faith and try them. For many pets and their families it has made a world of difference. 
• Tagg. A GPS guided pet tracking device that mounts to your dogs collar. You can now follow your dog as they travel. Big brother is watching, and it can find your pet. Although I do not have this device, when Joe and I were trekking around the blackberry bushes getting slashed I was wishing that Teddy had Tagg. 

If you lose your pet start canvasing the area. Knock on every door, ask for help, call the local veterinarians, shelters, animal control, and hit social media. Leave information on your pet including, their age, breed, size, distinguishing marks, collar info, whether micro-chipped and if possible use a recent picture. Everyone may not help, but a few will, and a few can move mountains and make miracles.

If you find a dog that is injured help. You can seek local rescues, veterinarians, and public animal control. Be an advocate. Ask questions, and stay involved. In many cases an injured pet will be taken to an emergency clinic but if no one steps forward on their behalf their fate will be decided by others based on economics and accessibility. How would you feel if your pets fate was in someone else's hands?

If you find a pet that is not injured start asking everyone around the area that you found the pet if they know who's it is? Often a pet has not wandered far from its home. Try to find a safe place to stay with the pet for a few minutes. Their family is hopefully looking for them too, and they will be looking close to where the pet was lost.

If you can house the pet in the interim it takes to find their family you will keep that pet out of a shelter where chance of communicable disease and being lost in the system is appreciably diminished.

Any pet that has been running will likely be hot, tired, and thirsty. Here are some signs of heat exhaustion and intolerance. Signs of heat intolerance

A dog that has been outside in the heat for any amount of time, especially if they are running or fearful, can be at risk of hyperthermia.Death from hyperthermia

Teddy had been in the best hands possible. He was lucky and Chris was so relieved to have him back.

Teddy was reunited by the efforts of many caring people. From the Facebook post I made he was seen by over 6000 people. Many people shared his post, and many people were out looking for him. I am so grateful for their help, and I will work to find a way to have a national Amber Alert system in place to help other people find their missing pets. Until then please keep your pet with you and be proactive. They react with fear and this is the most dangerous time of year for lost pets.

Wishing you and your family a happy and safe Fourth of July!

Teddy and his very relieved dad.

If you have any pet questions, or would like to add anything to this blog please find me @Pawbly, or Pawbly.

I will be writing on intestinal obstruction next,..stay tuned.